10 Stellar Tips For Summer Eye Health

Maintaining healthy eyes is important especially in the summer where the strong UV rays from the sun can easily damage them. Eye physician, Dr. Joanna Slusky has shared the top 10 tips to keep your eyes in the healthiest state during these bright months!

Joanna Slusky Halsted Eye Boutique

Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, yet their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV-A and UV-B radiation. Summer = more time outside = more UV exposure. Wearing non-100%UV blocking sunnies actually damages the front (AKA pinguecula), and the inside of your eyes (pupils enlarge allowing more light to enter your eye and promoting cataracts and macular degeneration). Polarized lenses significantly reduce eyestrain by cutting high-glare (i.e. while driving/swimming) and specific color tints enhance your visual comfort during certain activities (i.e. gray is best for intense sun, amber for fishing, yellow for overcast/cloudy days, and green for depth of field sports like golf or tennis).

2. Kids need sunglasses, TOO!

Although it can be difficult to get kids to keep their sunglasses on, it’s actually much more important than you think! Most of our lifetime exposure to harmful UV radiation happens before age 18 when eyes are more sensitive and still developing.

3. COVER UP!

Protect your skin, just like you would your eyes when in the sun. Yes, I’m an Optometrist, but I still want you to stay protected from harmful UVA/UVB radiation. Wear hats or visors, use umbrellas or find shade, and apply your lightweight, water-resistant Beauty Counter sunscreen - SPF30, formulated with non-nano zinc oxide & aloe which helps hydrate skin, while antioxidant-rich green tea & blood orange extracts fight free radicals. Why Beauty Counter? They banned >1500 chemicals from being used in any of their products. They even have a handy “NeverList” of ingredients you will never see in any of their products.

4. PROTECT your eyes & BEWARE of chemicals and natural irritants!

Summer season is a popular time for home improvement & sports. I recommend you always use protective goggles. Chemicals found in pools and natural irritants like poison ivy, oak, insect bites, lake and river bacteria can be harmful or bothersome to you in general, but especially near your eyes. Be sure to always wear goggles if you will be opening your eyes in a pool, river, or lake. Also, if you find yourself outside near natural irritants (i.e. camping), be mindful of keeping your hands clean after touching certain plants, as rubbing allergens into your eyes can cause many problems.

5. SAND in your eyes?!

Another common summer issue is finding yourself with sand in your eyes from the wind, people walking by, or shaking out towels. DO NOT rub your eyes! I recommend you flush out these particles with saline or preservative-free artificial tears but rubbing your eyes can actually cause the coarse sand particles to scratch your cornea. See me immediately if you find no relief. 773-549-1111

6. Choose the HEALTHIEST contacts for your eyes!

Our eyes have a high tolerance for gradual discomfort, so it’s tough to feel irritation as it accumulates. My healthiest patients love the feeling of a fresh, clean lens every single day and say it’s truly life-changing. It’s the safest, healthiest, most convenient way to keep eyes feeling and seeing their very best. There’s no lens care or costly solutions required—just wear them 1 day & throw them away! And now that one-day contacts can enhance your eye color, correct for astigmatism, and even eliminate the need for reading glasses—the opportunities are endless.

7. EAT RIGHT to protect your sight!

Healthy body = healthy eyes. A diet rich in colorful fruits & dark green leafy veggies - spinach, ︎kale, collard greens - is great for your eyes because of its Lutein and Zeaxanthin content. Fish such as sal︎mon, tuna and halibut are filled ︎with omega-3 fatty acids, which are amazing for dry eye as well as healthy skin, hair, nails, brain, and our heart.

8. Stay HYDRATED!

Drinking 8 glasses of water/day will support eye moisture and help fight dry eye disease. Not only is drinking the right amount of water great for eye health but also skin and overall health as well. If you drink coffee or other diuretics, add 1 extra 8oz glass for every cup of coffee of caffeinated drink. Drink even more water if the weather is >90F, or if you spend a lot of time in a hot environment, exercising, or doing activities that cause you to sweat. If you constantly have dry mouth, dry skin, lack of urination and dry eyes, then you need to increase your fluid intake!

9. Get plenty of SLEEP!

Sacrificing sleep can result in dark circles or bags under your eyes because it increases the retention of blood and fluid around the eyes. Also, sleepy eyes are often dry. Eyes need a constant supply of tears for optimum function, which is why blinking is so important. Insomnia results in popped eye vessels (AKA blood-shot eyes) and prevents eyes from getting needed fluid circulation which cleans and renews them. Another and even odder consequence are eye spasms (AKA myokymia). This involuntary eye twitch can be uncomfortable and distracting. Adequate sleep rests the body and all its eye muscles, therefore, the twitching should only be temporary.

10. SCHEDULE your eye exam!

When back-to-school time rolls around, schools require kids to have an eye exam. A good tip to keep everyone healthy is to schedule your eye exam with your kid’s eye exam, before the back to school rush – the sooner, the better. Although your vision may seem “fine” and eyes may feel “normal”, visiting a trusted eye care professional annually is the only way to know for sure. People often assume that if they don’t wear glasses or contacts, there’s no reason to check their ocular health. However, many common eye diseases - glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, and even cancer - often have no warning signs. A retinal eye exam is the only way to detect their early stages. At Halsted Eye Boutique we are a “No Puff” and “No Drop” practice. Our Optomap® Retinal Exam provides an ultra wide field view of the back of the eye. It’s quick, painless, and requires no dilating drops or blurry vision. Book online at www.DrJoannaSlusky.com!